Production companyAmerican Highhas been making a name for itself in the teen comedy space, carving out a niche of films thatembody the spirit of belovedJohn Hughesclassicswhile giving them a modern twist. FromPlan BtoCrush, they’ve put out some real gems that tackle current issues of everything from the morning-after pill to coming out with a blend of raunchy humor and heartwarming moments.Prom Datesfits their brand nicely, and while it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its best projects,there’s still plenty to love about the simple and sweet yet sometimes stereotypical flick.
Prom Dates
What Is ‘Prom Dates’ About?
Prom Datesfeels like theAvengers: Endgameof teen television, bringing ambassadors from nearly every popular young adult show together for a cinematic event. There’sAntonia GentryfromGinny & Georgia, who plays Jess, a high schooler desperate to win prom queen, even going so far as to date popular but sleazy Luca (Jordan Buhat,Grown-ish) to do it. Her best friend is Hannah (Julia Lester, one of the best parts ofHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series), who’s dating Greg (Kenny Ridwan,The Goldbergs) even though she is secretly a lesbian with a crush on Angie (Terry Hu,Never Have I Ever). There’s alsoGossip Girl’sZión Morenoas a scene-stealing college student nicknamed “Vodka Heather,”Alexa & Katie’sEmery Kellyas a hilarious concussion-prone frat bro, andJohn Michael Higginsas the principal, who’s fresh off his role as adifferentprincipal in the gone-too-soonSaved by the Bellreboot.
The premise is straightforward. The film opens on a flashback of a younger Jess and Hannah making a blood oath, vowing to have the perfect prom. Unfortunately, just 24 hours before the big day, it looks like making good on this pact is going to be more difficult than they originally thought, as Jess finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, and Hannah is struggling to embrace her sexuality as Greg grows increasingly clingy. The two set out on a wild night filled with hijinks to try and find new dates so they can live their dreams, butthe pressure threatens the most important thing of all — their friendship.
‘Prom Dates’ Lacks Characterization and Nuance
The main reasonProm Datesdoesn’t always work is its confused tone, as it tries to mix the humor ofAmerican Piewith the quirkiness ofBooksmartand the message of a Disney Channel Original Movie. The story itself feels aimed toward pre-teens like 2011’sPromor 2023’sProm Pact, though the way it’s told keeps it from being appropriate for that audience, with the comedy and content moreBlockers-esque. The genericness of the plot and lack of character development drag it down most drastically.
This is particularly evident with Jess as her motivation never makes sense. She desperately wants to win prom queen, but we never get a specific reason why it’s so important to her. She’s insecure, that much is clear, but there’s no exploration as to where that lack of self-esteem stems from. We’re not privy to her family life, nor do we get a real sense of the school hierarchy or where she and Hannah fall on the social food chain, so to speak. They seem relatively well-liked, and they’re not shown as being bullied, which makesthe stakes feel low and hollow. Instead of digging into her past or getting any real depth, she’s reduced to delivering cliché platitudes like, “Going alone is like admitting nobody wanted to go with you — going with someone popular means I made it.” Gentry does her best with what she has, and she fares better on the comedy side of things, but unfortunately, she’s not given a lot of inspiring material with which to work.
Hannah fares slightly better, as her journey grappling with her sexuality is more grounded and substantial. But one can’t help wishing it was handled with a bit more care and nuance. It’s moving to see almost everyone immediately accept her for who she is, and the absence of abuse or trauma is refreshing. However, coming out can be a confusing, vulnerable, and scary process regardless of how the people close to you react — a fact that the film doesn’t present with particular eloquence. Hannah should be held accountable for making mistakes, especially when they hurt people, but she’s given very little grace, all things considered. She didn’t date Greg with malicious intent — it was and is a common form of self-protection — but people come down hard on her for that decision, painting her as a manipulative liar.Prom Datestries to make a very gray situation black-and-white, which ultimately doesn’t do Hannah’s storyline justice.
The Humor of ‘Prom Dates’ Is a Mixed Bag
Luckily, despite its downfalls,Gentry and Lester have charisma and chemistry— enough to make watching them bounce off one another for an hour and a half a good time. They each fully commit to the often outlandish moments, and their banter and friendship are where the movie shines brightest. In lesser hands, dialogue that integrates pop culture — like “I would rather get in a Lyft with Thelma and Louise” and “I was giving handjobs to a guy with aGleebumper sticker” — could come off cringe, but they’re delivered with snappy wit.
Unfortunately, not all the humor works as well. The film can’t help but fall into cliché gags, an over-reliance on lukewarm slapstick, and an abundance of gross-out humor. From the principal putting a condom on his head during a sex ed lecture or a chain of vomiting that goes on a few beats too long, a few moments seem lazy — like we’ve seen them a million times before.The bigger the film swings, the bigger laughs it evokes, with the more bizarre and absurdist plotlines giving it a wildBottoms-like tone.Chelsea Handleris great in a weird but hilarious role as Greg’s mom training her beloved yet homicidal dog to communicate using buttons, and Jess nearly being sacrificed by an evil Italian man at a party shouldn’t work, but oddly does.
WhileProm Datesdoesn’t handle the drama of Hannah’s coming out perfectly, it nails the comedic aspects. Lines like “I had to think ofRachel WeiszinThe Mummyto cum” and “My music taste is all women who sound like ghosts anyway” are sure to tickle the sapphics — especially the ones who were obsessed with the elementary school teachers and have DMedSarah Paulsonwhile under the influence. More queer representation is important, but it’s crucial that it not always be depressing and feel authentic to the community it’s representing.Prom Datesmanages to do both,letting us see lesbian joyalongside lesbian clownery and imperfection, too.
Prom Datesmostly blends into the countless other films that cover the same subject matter, butthere are a few moments here and there that elevate itto something more. While the characters are thinly drawn and their arcs underbaked, the comedy is there for the most part. It’s not likely to join the ranks of sleepover staples likeMean GirlsorClueless, but there are certainly far worse ways to spend 85 minutes.
Prom Dates doesn’t dig deep enough with its characters, but the great comedy beats somewhat make up for it.
Prom Datesis now available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
